Overview
Are you an emerging leader who wants to gain valuable skills managing projects in the conservation field? Do you love working outdoors and want to grow your skills and experience in a team lead role? Do you have effective communication skills and are you able to help mitigate internal team issues? Then this position is for you!
The Land Stewardship Field Coordinator leads a team that maintains the boundary lines of the protected land that surrounds the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). This challenging and rewarding work involves hiking off-trail through untouched forests, clearing vegetation with loppers, putting up boundary signs, repainting blazes on trees, finding survey markers, and recording data. This team ensures that the Appalachian Trail is protected by a well-marked boundary line and that any violations are promptly found and resolved. The pristine wildlands and unmatched hiking experience on the A.T. would not be possible without the work of the Land Stewardship Team.
The Land Stewardship Field Coordinator trains, leads, and works alongside 3 Land Stewardship Technicians. The Coordinator plans project logistics, double-checks detailed field data, produces thorough reports, leads volunteer work trips, and maintains vehicles and equipment. Fieldwork involves hiking off-trail in rugged terrain and car camping near the worksites. This position will be based in Bangor, Maine. Most fieldwork will be in Maine’s 100-mile wilderness, with additional trips to other areas in the Northeast.
Who We Are
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
What We Can Achieve Together
The Land Stewardship Field Coordinator will:
Acts as a resource for Technicians, helping meet their needs and enabling them to perform high-quality, fulfilling work.
Trains, leads, and performs fieldwork monitoring and maintaining the A.T. corridor boundary lines: posting signs, painting trees, finding survey monuments, and clearing vegetation with hand tools Trains technicians in fieldwork and data recording protocols.
Plans and completes field projects including scouting field sites, pre-field preparation, daily safety check-ins, and post-field reporting.
Travels to and from work sites, camping near work sites as appropriate.
Assures the quality and organization of detailed monitoring data.
Follows protocols documenting and mitigating encroachment violations on the A.T. corridor.
Organizes, inventories, and maintains tools, supplies, equipment, and program vehicles.
Leads work trips with volunteer participants.
Other awesome work as assigned by the Natural Resources & Land Stewardship Manager – Northeast.
Qualifications:
Don’t worry if you have never done boundary maintenance. We will provide training on the technical aspects of this work.
Effective leadership, communication, organization, and critical thinking skills
Significant hiking and camping ability and experience
Passion for environmental conservation and volunteerism
Self-motivated person who works well independently and in a team environment
Experience using and maintaining hand tools and 4x4 vehicles
Valid driver's license
Required Skills:
Ability to hike long distances and work in rugged terrain, variable weather, and remote off-trail locations.
Ability to live and perform strenuous work in the backcountry for multiple days and overnights.
Ability to lift and carry 50+ pounds.
Regular travel to trail access points in Maine and across the Northeast.
Long days in the field and some weekend work may be required.
Preferred Skills:
Proficiency in using a compass and navigating off-trail
Proficiency in reading and interpreting maps, property deeds, and survey plats
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, GPS applications, and ESRI ArcGIS software
Proficiency in identifying tree species common to New England
Bachelor’s degree (or work towards a degree) in environmental science, recreation management, natural resources management, forestry, or a related field, with experience working in your field
Wilderness First Aid
About Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail – ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come.
